Polisher for pipe ends

ABSTRACT

THE TOOL DISCLOSED HEREIN IS INTENDED FOR USE BY PLUMBERS AND MECHANICS FOR CLEANING THE ENDS OF PIPES AND TUBING. THE TOOL HAS A CYLINDRICAL BODY WITH A PIPE GUIDE MEANS ON ONE END. THE PIPE GUIDE MEANS CAN BE A DEVICE HAVING EITHER RADIALLY ADJUSTABLE JAWS, CIRCULARLY ADJUSTABLE JAWS OR BUSHINGS OR TONGS. A ROLL OF SAND PAPER, EMERGY PAPER OR OTHER ABRASIVE STRIP MAY BE SUPPORTED ON THE TOOL TO FORM AN ABRASIVE ELEMENT. ONE END OF THE STRIP OF ABRASIVE IS ATTACHED TO THE TOOL AND   THE DISTAL END OF THE STRIP IS HELD IN TENSION IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PIPE. THUS, BY ROTATING THE TOOL, THE PIPE CAN BE CLEANED.

March 9, 1971 D. G. SLAT'ER 3,568,376

POLISHER FOR PIPE ENDS- F'iled May 2, 1968 v y 2 SheetsQ-Sheet 1 DMN G`- 51.10111 March 9, 1971 D, Q SLATER 3,568,376

` POLISHER' lFOR PIPE ENDS Filed lMay 2, 1968 2 Sneets-Sheet 2 /A/vefvro` -Da/vano G. 5a. A ram Patented Mar. 9, 1971 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The tool disclosed herein is `intended for use by plumbers and mechanics for cleaning the ends of pipes and tubing. The tool has a cylindrical body with a pipe guide means on one end. The pipe guide means can be a device having either radially adjustable jaws, circularly adjustable jaws or bushings or tongs. A roll of sand paper, emery paper or other abrasive strip may be supported on the tool to form an abrasive element. One end of the strip of abrasive is attached to the tool and the distal end of the strip is held in tension in engagement with the pipe. Thus, by rotating the tool, the pipe can |be cleaned.

In the plumbing and pipe fitting industry, it is necessary to clean off all oxidation, scale, and foreign matter from the outside engaging surface of copper/bronze pipe and tubing prior to assembling to Ts, elbows, unions, etc. by soldering, or as is more commonly called sweating, the fitting on.

For lack of a proper tool to remove the above oxidation, it is common for the craftsman to hold the copper/ bronze pipe or tubing between his knees and with a strip of abrasive paper or cloth, pull down alternately with the right and left hands, shceshine fashion, to clean the metal. When he is satisfied that one-half of the outside diameter is clean, he rotates the pipe 180 degrees and following the above procedure, cleans the other onehalf of the pipe outside diameter.

A visual inspection is necessary to be certain he has rotated the copper/bronze pipe or tubing accurately enough to be sure the outside diameter is completely clean.

The present device will allow the craftsman to lhold the copper/bronze pipe or tubing in one hand and slip the tool on with his other hand. He can now grasp the rotation handle and rotate the tool 360` degrees around the copper/bronze pipe or tubing enough times to clean the metal properly.

The spring tension on the abrasive insures complete cleaning all around the periphery of the copper/bronze pipe or tubing and tends to make the copper/ bronze pipe and tubing more round, removes any burrs from prior cutting-off operations, creates a scratch pattern effect which aids in solder retention, and insures the copper/ bronze pipe and tubing being ready for soldering.

The use of abrasive strip precludes the possibility of minute steel, or iron, particles being imbedded in the copper/bronze pipe that may cause rust.

In addition to the above, shorter pieces of copper/ bronze tubing or pipe can now be cleaned without seeking a vise to hold them.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide an improved pipe cleaner.

Another object is to provide a pipe cleaning tool that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and eflicient to use.

Another object is to provide a pipe cleaning tool wherein a sheet of abrasive paper is held at its ends with the bight portion in engagement with the pipe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pipe cleaning tool with spring loaded jaws to hold the pipe end in proper location and an abrasive strip to engage the pipe.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the 'advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is an end view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is an end view of yet another embodiment of the invention.

Now with more particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2., the cylindrical body 10 has an end 11 with a handle 12 fixed to it. An annular wall 13 is fixed to the support member 14 Which is a cylindrical member generally concentric to the cylindrical body 10. The threaded screws 17 are threadably engaged in the support member 14 and can be moved inward and outward by means of handles 21. The jaws 15 each have an inner concave surface 22 facing the others and these surfaces 22 are adapted to engage the outer periphery of a pipe to be polished to guide and locate it for rotation against the sandpaper. The pipe indicated by dotted lines at 24 may be inserted between the jaws and its end will move in until it engages the stop 18 to limit its axial movement. A tensioning device 19 is fixed to the handle 20 which has an elongated member 26 that extends through the end wall 11 and is attached to the handle and to the tensioning device. The tensioning device may engage a strip of abrasive 36 which may be made of sand paper, emery paper, or like material supported on a roll in the enclosure 27. Guide 30 has pipe engaging portion 31 and is urged toward the pipe by spring 32. Guide 30 is supported on rod 32 which is slidably received in boss 33.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3, the body is generally cylindrical and has outer circumferentially disposed peripheral slots 126 and 127. Through these slots, the handles 128 and 12-9 extend. The handles are pivoted together at 130v and have a spring 131 that urges them together. Pivot axle 150 is fixed to the body 110. Since the handles are pivoted together at 130, their opposite ends will also move together and concave members 132 and 133 will engage the outside of a pipe and locate it in position. The concave members 132 and 133 could have abrasive material on their concave surface such as sandpaper to polish the end of the pipe.

In operation, the user will place the pipe between the jaws 132 and 133 and pull the end 136 until the bight portion of the strip is tight against the pipe. He Will then rotate the handle back and forth until the pipe is thorocghly cleaned. He will be sure to rotate it 360 degrees to clean the entire periphery. The roll 114 is supported in the cover which is fixed to body 210.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, a body of the device shown at 210 supports the roll 114 of abrasive mateiral. The strip 140 of abrasive material extends from roll 114 through slot 121 and around the end of the pipe 112 and through slot 122. Pintles 119 and 120 guide the strip. A detent 123 urges the strip against the stop 124. The detent 123 is pivoted 3 at 141 and has an end 142 that engages the strip. A similar detent 116 pivoted to the frame at 144 has end 145 which urges the strip 140 at 117 against the stop 118. In operation the user will place a paper against bight portion 140 as indicated by dotted lines 112. He will then rotate the body 210. This will cause the abrasive material to clean the end of the pipe. The abrasive material may be, for example, one inch Iwide. The sandpaper slides over guide 150 which is supported on rod 1=51 and urged toward the pipe by spring 152V. Rod 151 is slidably received in boss 153.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modilication within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A cleaning tool comprising a hollow generally cylindrical body, an elongated strip of abrasive material disposed in said hollow body, means supporting said elongated strip of abrasive ma terial in said body, said body having an opening in one end thereof to receive the end of a pipe to be cleaned, and guide means on said body for guiding said pipe and to hold said pipe in engagement with said abrasive material, said guide means comprises, a first member and a second member, said members each having concave surfaces facing the other, a first handle member xed to said rst member and a second handle iixed to the said second member, a dirst slot in said body and a second slot in said body spaced from said first slot, said :first handle extending through said first slot and siad second handle extending through said second slot, said handles being swung together and spring means urging said handles apart whereby said concave members engage said pipe. 2. The tool recited in claim 1 wherein spaced axially extending slots are formed in said body, one end of said strip extending through said rst slot,

the other end of said strip extending through said other axially extending slot,

a bight portion of said strip between said ends being adapted to engage said pipe,

said second mentioned end of said strip being formed into a roll, l

and means forming a cover for said roll,

and securing means engaging said strip adjacent each said axially extending slot.

3. The tool recited in claim 2 wherein a first axially extending pintle and a second axially extending pintle are disposed adjacent each other in said body,

a third axially extending pintle and a fourth axially extending pintle adjacent said third pintle,

said third and fourth pintles being spaced from said rst and second pintles,

said strip extending between said rst and second pintles and between said third and fourth pintles.

4. The tool recited in claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises a plurality of radially or circumferentially adjustable jaws,

each said jaw being attached to a threaded member,

each said threaded member extending through and threadably engaging said body,

and a pipe engaging surface on the adjacent end of each said jaw.

5. The tool recited in claim 4 wherein a guide is provided,

said guide having a concave surface adapted to engage said strip,

a rod slidably received in said body,

said guide being supported on said rod,

and a spring urging said guide toward said strip.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,748,313 2/1930 Steuber 5 l-392X 2,430,060 11/19471 Lamb et al. 5 l-392X 2,448,178 8/1948 Glowacki 51392X 2,362,036 11/1944 Tade 51-359X 2,618,915 11/1952 Johnson 51--24lSX JAMES L. JONES, JR., Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 51-354, 359 

